Hornsby's parents, Glenn and Donna Hornsby, who still live in Lehigh, released a statement Tuesday.

"CW3 Brian D. Hornsby was a loving and compassionate husband, father, son, brother and friend who never chose the easy path in life," the statement reads. "He joined the Army in 1998 as a Military Policeman with the ultimate dream of becoming a pilot. That dream became a reality in 2001 when he was selected for the Army Warrant Officer and Aviation Programs."

The family's comments also touched on Hornsby's VIP missions in Europe, medevac missions in Honduras, air assault missions in Iraq and special operations support missions in Afghanistan during his Army aviation career.

"He was highly respected as 'one of the best of the best pilots' and often requested by name to fly the really tough and dangerous missions," the statement read. "He never turned down that special opportunity because he knew it would save the lives of fellow servicemen."

His father said Hornsby grew up in Lehigh but graduated from high school in North Carolina. He attended Riverdale High School in Fort Myers.

He later returned to Southwest Florida to attend college at the former USF campus in Fort Myers, now FGCU.

He was on his second deployment to Afghanistan.

Chief Warrant Officer Hornsby was married with two young children. His family is now making plans for a private memorial service in Melbourne.